CUSTOMS CLEARANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20619, 18 July 1930, Page 9

CUSTOMS CLEARANCES.

EQUAL TREATMENT SOUGHT. VIEWPOINT OF IMPORTERS. PRIME MINISTER'S PROMISE. [I)Y TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. "It is suspected—we will put it that way—that theie may tie an alteration in the tariff and what we wish tn do in im posing any taxation is to adopt the fairest and most equitable system,'' said thp Prime Minister, the Hon. C. W. Forbes, when replying to a deputation which waited upon him to protest against the departure from (he previous practice in the acceptance of customs entries. Mr. M. A. Carr acted as spokesman for the flop itation, which consisted of mem bers of the importers' and exporters' com mil tee of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. It, was contended that the refusal by the customs authorities to take entries until a vessel had arrived at its actual port of discharge for the goods concerned • ! unduly interfered with the ordinary chan | nels of commerce and tended to prejudice j importers at latei ports of discharge as . against those competitive importers receiving their goods at earlier ports. "Competition in commerce circles in New Zealand i 3 particularly keen, but it has always been clean," said Mr. Carr. "We are* anxious that no one set of importers should be placed at a disadvantage : as compared with another. We view with apprehension any change in the system to which we have become accustomed. We do not believe for ono moment that it was the intention of the department to interfere with trading conditions. Wo believe it has not fully appreciated the finer points of trading. W 7 e hope the position will be reviewed and that there will be a reversion to the previous method of clearances. Dr. G. Craig, Comptroller of Customs, said that the incidence of taxation was involved in the present practice. There was no scheme, so far as he knew, that would place all importers on an equal basis. The department thought that the method which had been adopted was the best that could bo evolved in the circumstances. The Prime Minister said there were really two sides to the question. There was the viewpoint of the Government on the fairness of the taxation and its application and there was the viewpoint of those who were asked to carry the taxation burden. "W T hat we want to do is to adopt a system that will be fair in its operation," he said. Mr. Forbes promised to discuss the matter with the Comptroller of Customs. PROTEST BY IMPORTERS. SUPPORT FROM AUCKLAND BODY. Support to the Dunedin merchants in their protest against the refusal of the Customs Department to clear goods from a vessel at its first port of call in New Zealand was given in a letter which was recently forwarded to the Prime Minister by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The chamber stated that it considered I it was not equitable at times when a : change in the tariff was effected that i goods which had reached a New Zealand - port, but had not arrived at their final . destination, should be charged a higher t. rate of duty than goods landed at the 3 vessel's first port of call. A reply was received hy the chamber , yesterday that the matter was receiving - attention. Mr. W. A. Boucher said he nnderstood that under an antiquated law the Customs Department could refuse to i clear goods in such circumstances. It was decided to write to the Dunedin 5 Chamber of Commerce promising support ! if a repeal of the law was sought.